Page 84 of Stolen Salvation

A smile spread across her face as she glanced at her husband to see tears in his eyes and in that second, she wasn’t sure she could love him more.

The feeling of pulling and pushing in her tummy made a wave of nausea sweep over her.

“Doc, she looks like she might puke.”

Noah rubbed her hand as something was injected into her IV and the feeling of nausea faded. A cry tore through the air and then Savannah was holding up a tiny, perfect baby who was red and screaming her beautiful lungs out.

A sob escaped her as emotion and love overwhelmed her and she glanced at Noah to see tears streaming down his face. He squeezed her hand as they watched their daughter being whisked over to the incubator and cleaned off, still making her objections to the abrupt change of scenery known.

“She looks good. I’m just going to fix this all up while they weigh her.”

“Is she okay?”

Noah looked toward Savannah who nodded. “Perfectly fine. Can you hear the lungs on that child?”

Moments later the nurse was handing their daughter to Noah, who took her in his arms as if she was the most delicate, breakable glass. He cradled her close as he brought her to Charlie’s eye line.

“She’s perfect.”

He dropped a kiss on her head, his smile so bright it lit the room. “I won’t let anyone hurt you, princess, not ever.”

It was an hour later once she’d been sewn back together and was still a little groggy from the morphine that she finally got to hold her daughter.

“I can’t believe she’s here.”

“What shall we call her?” During her pregnancy, they hadn’t taken a second for granted so names were put on hold until they saw her.

“What about Iris?”

Charlie smiled through the exhaustion hitting her. “I like that.”

“It means rainbow and she’s ours.”

“That’s beautiful, Noah. How about Iris Winifred after Freddie too? I want to honour him and not forget that we’ve been blessed twice over.”

“Perfect. Iris Winifred.”

Noah stroked Iris’ cheek as she fed. “You were amazing, Charlie. I didn’t think I could be more in awe of you but every day you surprise me and show me how lucky I am to have you in my life.”

“I was thinking earlier how I couldn’t love you more and then I saw you with her and knew I’d spend my life loving you more each day.”

His lips met hers as he cupped her face. It was sweet and beautiful. They were a family now, but she’d come to realise over the last nine months that family wasn’t blood, it was stepping up and being there at the worst and the best moments.

“You should go see them. They’ll be chomping at the bit for news.”

Noah nodded and stood, taking a sleepy Iris, who seemed milk drunk from her arms. “I won’t be long.”

“It’s fine. I’m probably going to catch a nap.”

He bent and kissed her and she sighed, knowing she had her happy ending with the promise of beauty and joy ahead of her. It wouldn’t all be sunshine and roses but now she had the tools, and more importantly, the people to help her cope with anything life threw her way.

* * *

Pushing through the door from the private room into the lounge where his friends were waiting for news, Bishop felt pride and love so strong he thought he’d choke on it. His eyes never wanted to leave Iris but as he dragged them away, he saw every single member of Shadow Elite and their partners waiting for him.

“Guys, I’d like you all to meet Iris Winifred Bishop.”

Instantly he was surrounded, everyone trying to get a look at the first Shadow baby to grace the team and change the dynamic. Before they’d fought for justice, and now each of them knew they fought for family too.